The political landscape in Madhya Pradesh is currently reeling from intense turmoil following the announcement of the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for the upcoming Datia by-election. By sidelining Narottam Mishra and choosing Ashutosh Tiwari as the party's official candidate, the local BJP chapter has ignited a firestorm of dissent. The aftermath of this decision has seen swift and disruptive protests breaking out across the district.
Public Outcry and Road Blocks
Supporters of Narottam Mishra took to the streets in protest almost immediately after the announcement. The atmosphere in Datia turned volatile as demonstrators blocked the highway, raising slogans in favor of their leader. The situation escalated to the point where protesters burned tires on the road and forced the closure of several commercial establishments. The demonstrators have issued a clear warning that if the party does not reconsider the candidacy and restore the ticket to Narottam Mishra, the protests will only intensify further.
The Collapse of the Organizational Structure
Beyond the street protests, the BJP has suffered a severe blow at the organizational level. District President Raghuvir Singh Kushwaha announced his resignation, a move that was followed by a mass exodus of the entire district committee. Furthermore, every single councillor from the region has submitted their resignation in solidarity. The district unit is now effectively left without a formal functional structure.
In a formal letter detailing the mass resignation, Raghuvir Singh Kushwaha listed that the office-bearers including the District Panchayat President, Janpad President, Nagar Palika Datia President and Vice President, along with the President and Vice President of the Baroni Panchayat, have all stepped down. Additionally, the presidents and committees of all 6 mandals of the Datia assembly constituency, as well as the presidents and working committees of all 281 booths within the assembly segment, have collectively submitted their resignations.
Internal Discord and Political History
Kushwaha stated that the collective decision was driven by the perception that the candidate selection for the by-election was unilateral and ignored the hard work put in by the grassroots party workers who had campaigned extensively at the booth level. While the matter has been communicated to the state leadership and divisional in-charges, the current leadership is urging calm and patience among the rank and file. They maintain that they have faith in the senior party leadership, yet the scale of the protest remains a major concern.
This by-election was necessitated after the 2023 assembly election. In that contest, Narottam Mishra had faced defeat against Congress candidate Rajendra Bharti. Subsequently, Bharti’s legislative membership was revoked following a three-year sentence in a bank FD fraud case. The BJP opted to place its trust in a local face, Ashutosh Tiwari, a decision that has now sparked a major rebellion within the party ranks.
